The Poco X3 Pro: A Budget Gaming Beast With Compromises
The Poco X3 Pro is billed as the true successor to the iconic Poco F1, a phone renowned for its powerful processor and no-frills approach. However, the X3 Pro takes a slightly different direction, focusing on a youthful audience with bold design choices. In a crowded market, it’s challenging to stand out. But the X3 Pro tries to do so with a powerful Snapdragon 860 SoC, a high refresh rate display, and a hefty 5,160mAh battery, all for a starting price of Rs 18,999. But is it enough to win over discerning budget buyers? Let’s dive into the details.
Poco X3 Pro Price and Availability
The Poco X3 Pro is available in India at a starting price of Rs 18,999 for the 6GB RAM + 128GB storage variant. The 8GB RAM + 128GB storage model comes in at Rs 20,999. You can choose from three vibrant colors: Graphite Black, Steel Blue, and Golden Bronze.
The X3 Pro competes directly with other popular models in the sub-Rs. 20,000 segment, such as the Redmi Note 10 Pro Max, Realme X7 5G, and Moto G60.
Poco X3 Pro Design: Bold and Flashy
The Poco X3 Pro is undeniably bold and flashy, targeting young buyers who want their phone to stand out. Its design heavily resembles the Poco X3, featuring an oversized camera module in the center of the rear, which looks like a flattened circle.
Two-thirds of the rear panel boasts a frosted matte finish, but a thick glossy stripe runs down the center with a pattern of diagonal lines that become visible at certain angles. This stripe attracts fingerprints easily, contrasting with the relatively clean matte areas. A large, outlined Poco logo adorns the stripe, making it more subtle than the solid logo found on the X3.
The phone is larger and heavier than the average in this segment, weighing 213g and measuring 9.4mm thick. Its body is rated IP53, making it "splash-proof," a desirable feature. The front is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 6.
The 6.67-inch display dominates the front with a camera hole at the top-center. A notification LED cleverly hides within the top speaker grille, although it’s only visible when looking directly at the phone.
The side-mounted fingerprint sensor is slightly recessed, with the volume buttons positioned above it. On the left, the hybrid dual-SIM tray demands a choice between a second SIM or a microSD card for storage. The top houses Xiaomi’s signature IR emitter and a hole for enhanced earpiece sound when used as a second speaker. The bottom holds a 3.5mm audio jack, a USB Type-C port, and the primary speaker.
Poco X3 Pro Specifications: Packed With Power
The most intriguing feature of the Poco X3 Pro is the inclusion of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 860 SoC. This processor, a slightly tweaked version of the Snapdragon 855, delivers powerful performance for its price point. It’s an interesting choice, echoing the Poco F1’s use of a slightly dated but still capable Snapdragon 845.
The Snapdragon 860 comprises an octa-core CPU, featuring one core clocked at 2.96GHz, three at 2.42GHz, and four at 1.8GHz. It also boasts the Adreno 640 GPU. However, it lacks an integrated 5G modem, which could be a drawback for future-proofing, even though 5G is not yet widespread in India.
The X3 Pro is equipped with a large 6.67-inch full-HD+ LCD screen with a 120Hz maximum refresh rate, a 240Hz touch sampling rate, and HDR10 support. The phone packs a generous 5,160mAh battery and supports 33W fast charging, with a compatible charger included in the box. Storage comes in at 128GB UFS 3.1 with either 6GB or 8GB LPDDR4X RAM. Other countries offer a 256GB storage variant, but India has a different segmentation strategy.
The X3 Pro supports dual-band Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5, GPS, stereo speakers, and has high-res audio certification.
Poco X3 Pro Performance: A Gaming Powerhouse
The X3 Pro delivers smooth everyday performance, exceeding expectations for a phone priced around Rs. 20,000. It effortlessly handles all your social media, communication apps, casual games, and productivity tools without any noticeable slowdowns, even when multitasking between demanding apps.
Benchmark scores highlight the Snapdragon 860’s prowess. AnTuTu 9 reported a score of 5,43,796, a remarkable feat for this price range. In comparison, the Redmi Note 10 Pro Max scored 2,71,830, and the Realme X7 5G managed 3,35,698 (although these scores are not directly comparable due to different AnTuTu versions). In Geekbench 5, the X3 Pro achieved 752 points in the single-core test and 1,892 points in the multi-core test. The 3DMark Wild Life graphics test delivered a score of 3,476, while GFXBench’s T-Rex and Car Chase scenes ran at 119fps and 39fps, respectively.
While the X3 Pro’s screen is not the best in this price segment for color reproduction, it’s perfectly fine for casual use. However, those who appreciate vibrant colors might find it slightly underwhelming. The high refresh rate is undeniably beneficial, and HDR kicks in when playing videos on YouTube. The large camera hole is noticeable in lighter scenes in videos. Stereo speakers, though loud and decent for game sound effects, are not ideal for enjoying high-quality music.
These capabilities solidify the X3 Pro’s position as a solid gaming device. Games like COD Mobile and Asphalt 9: Legends run flawlessly, offering enjoyable gameplay. However, the upper rear of the phone can get warm during extended gaming sessions, and the bulky camera bump might hinder comfortable horizontal grip. A protective case could mitigate these issues.
Overall usage is pleasant. The fingerprint sensor works effectively and is easily located by touch. Face recognition is also swift. However, the bulkiness might prove uncomfortable for one-handed use. The most significant annoyances are the ads on the Glance screen and promotional notifications from GetApps, which require some digging through the settings to disable.
Battery life on the X3 Pro is impressive. Even with an hour or more of gaming, you can easily get through a full day. With moderate usage, you might even stretch it to a day and a half. The bundled 33W charger achieves a respectable 55 percent charge in 30 minutes and 93 percent charge in an hour.
Poco X3 Pro Cameras: A Trade-Off for Performance
In a surprising twist, the X3 Pro features lower resolution rear cameras than the Poco X3. The X3 Pro boasts a 48-megapixel primary camera and an 8-megapixel ultra-wide camera, compared to the 64-megapixel and 13-megapixel sensors, respectively, on its ostensibly lower-end sibling. Of course, sensor and lens quality are more crucial than mere resolution.
The X3 Pro also includes a 2-megapixel macro camera and a 2-megapixel depth sensor. It remains to be seen whether users are willing to compromise on megapixel count for performance gains.
The camera app replicates the one found on recent Xiaomi phones, being feature-rich yet burying some key controls. Switching to or from the macro camera requires multiple taps. The main camera mode switcher is a carousel above the shutter button, with a spillover menu offering even more options, including Short Video, Vlog, Dual Video, AI Watermark, Clone, and Long Exposure.
In terms of photo quality, the Poco X3 Pro falls short of being the best in its segment. For casual users, it will produce acceptable photos, but colors lack vibrancy, and dynamic range is not particularly strong. While daylight shots offer reasonable detail, they lack the realism of more premium offerings. The ultra-wide-angle camera produces inferior detail, with noticeable compression artifacts and peripheral warping.
Close-up and portrait shots are decent thanks to the general strength of phone cameras in capturing foreground subjects. The natural depth of field achieved adds a welcome touch. The macro camera’s accuracy is hampered by the lack of a distance indicator, and the quality doesn’t justify the effort required to achieve optimal results.
Low-light performance is where the X3 Pro struggles. While it acquits itself well in environments with adequate artificial lighting, dark environments at night present a challenge. Textures appear murky, and detail is weak. Night mode can improve contrast and reduce blown-out highlights, but it doesn’t necessarily brighten shots significantly. It is most effective in very low light conditions, especially noticeable in the ultra-wide camera, which often produces unusable results in the dark without Night mode.
The 20-megapixel front camera fails to deliver the most natural-looking skin tones, and the default smoothing is overly aggressive. Selfies taken in both daylight and low-light conditions are good but not exceptional. Portrait mode does a commendable job at separating the background, although focus isn’t always perfect.
Video recording reaches 4K 30fps resolution with the primary rear camera. However, the absence of stabilization results in noticeable jitter, even at different resolutions. Video quality, while acceptable for casual use, isn’t the best in this price range. Videos shot at night under bright streetlights are grainy and lack vibrancy.
Poco X3 Pro Verdict: A Gaming Focus With Trade-offs
The Poco X3 Pro clearly prioritizes delivering the best possible CPU performance at around the Rs. 20,000 price point. It arguably achieves this goal. It’s a phone that will excel in gaming, offering a snappy and responsive experience for the foreseeable future. For those seeking a premium feel without breaking the bank, the X3 Pro is a compelling choice. The IP53 rating and stereo speakers are desirable additions, and if a bold design is your preference, it delivers.
However, the X3 Pro isn’t without its drawbacks. The screen is somewhat underwhelming, and the cameras are merely average. If you prioritize 5G compatibility and want to leverage the phone’s powerful processor for the next few years, the X3 Pro isn’t the best option. It’s also quite bulky and heavy.
While young buyers will find much to appreciate in the X3 Pro, it’s not a universal choice. If you seek a more well-rounded experience, be sure to check our list of the best phones priced under Rs. 20,000. Ultimately, the Poco X3 Pro represents a trade-off: sacrificing some aspects of camera quality and design for powerful performance. Whether that trade-off is justifiable depends on your individual priorities.
